The Met Office today said there is now an increased likelihood of a heatwave in Devon and Cornwall and said the chance are it will last into next week.

On Wednesday the weather service said there was a 60 per cent chance of heatwave conditions in parts of the country - including the South West - between now and midnight on saturday.

That has now been increased to a 70 per cent risk, and the warning is in place until 6pm on Tuesday.

But the South West has a lower risk of reaching heatwave threshold temperatures than other parts of the UK.

The level two heat alert from the Met Office reads: "On Friday, very warm and humid continental air is expected to move into southeast and eastern England.

"At the same time, a band of cloud and rain, with much milder conditions, will move across northern England. Between these two areas lies a combination of warm sunny spells but also cooler showery intervals, confining the warmest and most humid conditions to southeast England and East Anglia.

"Furthermore, thunderstorms are also forecast to develop in this area during Friday, leading to localised large temperature variations.

"Drier, sunnier weather is then expected to develop more widely across much of the the UK (except northern England) over the weekend, becoming hot and humid across the southeast and East Anglia on Sunday, with thresholds increasingly likely to be approached, and perhaps breached, on Monday and Tuesday.

"It will also feel especially warm overnight due to the humid conditions. The southwest and the midlands will also see temperatures rise over the weekend and into next week, but with a lower risk of thresholds being reached."

Devon and Cornwall weather forecast

Temperatures are forecast to rocket for the start of next week with the country expected to roast in another spell of red-hot weather.

Warmer air edging from the mid-Atlantic and plumes of warmth from the near continent and North Africa will force up values every day until it peaks at 32C in some spots.

Yesterday forecasters describers what comes next as 'a monster heatwave'

Some forecasts suggest that temperatures next week could be the hottest of the summer so far with the mercury well into the 30s C across many parts of the country.

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Alternatively, some models predict pressure building over the UK which could keep fine and dry conditions without the searing heat from Europe.

Much of the very warm weather will be in the south, with fresher conditions confined to the northwest, where there could be some rain and drizzle in Scotland.

Further ahead, the longer term outlook also indicates some very warm weather at the start of August although showers are possible at times. However, there is still some uncertainty in the forecast.

Most forecast models confirm there will be plenty of dry and bright weather with plenty of sunshine, although there is the risk of a thundery shower.

Most places will be warm and humid, but the south and parts of the east and northeast will become very warm.

Dry conditions dominate in the south and southeast for a prolonged spell, but with a risk of showers or thunder.

Further north and west it may be more changeable and breezy with some outbreaks of rain or showers.

Temperatures generally warm or very warm, with hot or very hot conditions possibly developing in the southeast.

A spokesperson for The Weather Channel said: “Models have trended much warmer through the week commencing July 23.

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“Pressure rebuilding over Scandinavia will extend its influence further westwards towards the British Isles, pulling either an east or south-easterly breeze into the UK.

“Weather conditions becoming settled once more with the airflow moving in from the near-continent or the North Sea. Temperatures could hit the high 20s C to possibly 30C locally.”

What is a Level 2 Heat Health Alert?

Triggered as soon as the risk is 60% or above for threshold temperatures being reached in one or more regions on at least two consecutive days and the intervening night.

This is an important stage for social and healthcare services who will be working to ensure readiness and swift action to reduce harm from a potential heatwave.

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Storm warning issued for part of South West

A yellow warning of severe weather which covers part of the South West has been issued by the Met Office for Friday.

The warning is currently in place for half of Dorset, covering Weymouth and east across Bournemouth.

It will come into force at 2pm on Friday and run until midnight with slow-moving, thundery downpours expected.

The Met Office says there is a small chance of homes and businesses flooding, as well as delays or cancellations on South West train lines and roads.

The warning reads: "High temperatures may set off some heavy showers and thunderstorms, which in some places could be slow-moving and persistent, bringing a risk of flooding.

"Should they develop, in the heaviest showers some places could see 30mm of rain in an hour, which would likely bring flooding impacts particularly should this fall on an urban area.

"There would also be a smaller chance of impacts from lightning strikes. As is the nature of showers, many places will miss them altogether, and it is not possible to say precisely where they will occur, but the warning area highlights the region at greatest risk."

The forecast currently shows some rain in parts of Devon forecast for Friday - including across North Devon at around 4pm.

The storms should be short-lived with better weather forecast for the weekend in the south.

Devon and Cornwall weekend weather forecast

Early reports indicated the jet stream would weaken and move to the south of the UK allowing more unsettled weather to take charge.

But it now seems that the jet stream will maintain its strength allowing pressure to build across the country.

Fresher air from earlier this week will be banished by warmer and more humid conditions for most as the week progresses with a fine and dry weekend ahead for many locations.

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It will be very warm for large parts of England and Wales, especially in the south, with temperatures reaching the high 20s C for most, and even topping 30C in places.

However, there is a risk of an isolated ​thundery shower and it will feel very humid, especially at night, making it difficult to sleep in the oppressive conditions.

Further north and west it may be more changeable and breezy with outbreaks of rain or showers, but temperatures won’t drop too far.

A spokesperson for The Weather Channel said: “A weak weather front will sink southwards over central and southern areas on Saturday bringing cloud and isolated spits of rain but turning brighter later in day. “Cloudy in the north with light rain over western Scotland and Ireland.

“Very warm over central parts and hot in the south on Sunday with sunny spells. Cloudy in the north with light outbreaks of rain moving into western Scotland and Ireland.

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“Temperatures reaching 30C in the south.”

The weather split between the changeable, less-warm north, and the hot and humid south, will continue into the following week with signs that the settled weather could stay over the UK until well into August.

It will remain bright and warm in the much of the Midlands, southern and eastern England, northeast England and Wales for the foreseeable future but more cloud and breezier elsewhere. Staying warmer-than-average for most into the ​new month with values nudging 30C in places.